After Xie Jingchu left Mingxiang Pavilion, he immediately told Ruan Jiu about this matter.
Then the two of them unanimously decided that they should tell Shen Yu about it first.
"It's impossible. Xi'er would never do such a thing!"
When Shen Yu heard what Xie Jingchu said, he pursed his lips and shook his head.
Although Shen Ruoxi was a bit arrogant and willful, she was by no means a vicious person.
She would never do something like drugging someone to ruin their innocence.
Xie Jingchu snorted coldly, his eyes full of disdain. "Do you think I would slander her with such a thing?"
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu hesitated a little and then said, "Young Master Shen, Fourth Master would never talk nonsense without evidence."
Even if Xie Jingchu disliked Shen Yu, he would never frame Shen Yu's younger sister.
Moreover, Xie Jingchu and Shen Ruoxi were strangers to each other.
Although she had only met Shen Ruoxi once, she had clearly seen the blatant malice in Shen Ruoxi's eyes that day.
"But why would Xi'er frame you?" Shen Yu still refused to believe it.
Xie Jingchu's eyes darkened. "You'll have to ask your mother about that."
Hearing this, Shen Yu fixed his eyes.
He thought to himself that maybe his mother knew he had been getting too close to Ruan Jiu recently and suspected their relationship.
So she suddenly sent Xi'er to Qinzhou.
"If that's really the case, I'm afraid this matter was instigated by my mother." Shen Yu's eyes were full of apology.
Shen Ruoxi would never do such a thing.
And his mother was always arbitrary. Once she made up her mind, there was no room for change.
Ruan Jiu frowned tightly. But she didn't seem to have offended Mrs. Shen.
What kind of unforeseen disaster was this?
"Shen Yu, I hope this is just a misunderstanding. But if it's not, don't blame me for being ruthless."
After Xie Jingchu said that, a glint of cruelty flashed across his eyes.
Shen Yu nodded. "When the banquet day comes, if Xi'er really does something to harm Miss Ruan, I will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation."
Xie Jingchu put away the cruelty in his eyes and narrowed his eyes slightly.
Everything would be revealed on the day of the banquet.
A few days later, the Shen family's banquet was held as scheduled.
At Shen Ruoxi's request, Shen Yu invited many noble families in Qinzhou City.
But this made Shen Yu feel even more uneasy.
On the day of the banquet, Shen Ruoxi was wearing a silver-threaded embroidered hundred-flower dress. Every move of hers demonstrated the elegance of a noble young lady.
Many young masters present were captivated by her.
"Although Miss Shen is a noble lady from the capital, in terms of appearance, she is still inferior to Miss Ruan," one of the young masters sighed, feeling a bit regretful.
This remark immediately caused dissatisfaction among another person.
"So what if Miss Ruan is beautiful? After all, she is just a distant cousin of the Xie family. In terms of family background, she is far inferior to Miss Shen."
Many people echoed.
"That's right. If one could marry a noble lady like Miss Shen, it would be like adding a boost to oneself."
"I heard that many princes and young masters in the capital have come to propose marriage. I wonder who will be lucky enough to be favored by Miss Shen."
"Don't worry. No matter who Miss Shen favors, she won't fail to notice you."
This remark immediately caused a burst of laughter.
The atmosphere at the banquet was instantly enlivened.
All these words also reached the ears of Shen Ruoxi and Ruan Jiu.
Shen Ruoxi glanced at Ruan Jiu triumphantly, covered her mouth, and coquettishly smiled.
However, Ruan Jiu didn't care at all.
She boredly twirled the wine cup on the table.
Waiting for the next good show.
Just then, Shen Ruoxi picked up the wine cup and walked straight towards Ruan Jiu.
Seeing this, Shen Yu's heart was in his throat.
He clenched his fists tightly, and his fingertips turned white.
His brows were tightly furrowed, and he felt an uneasiness in his heart.
Shen Ruoxi stopped in front of Ruan Jiu.
She smiled sweetly, her voice coquettish. "Sister Ruan, I'd like to offer you this glass of wine. Xi'er just came to Qinzhou. If there's anything offensive, please forgive me, Sister Ruan."
Ruan Jiu pinched her fingers, her eyes hesitant.
Was the drug in this wine cup?
Just as Ruan Jiu was in a daze, Shen Ruoxi lowered her eyes and pretended to be aggrieved. "Sister Ruan, even if I accidentally offended you somewhere, you don't have to humiliate me like this, do you?"
As soon as these words were said, many people felt indignant for Shen Ruoxi.
"I don't know what she's so proud of. Miss Shen has come to offer a toast in person."
"That's right. She always likes to put on an aloof look. But in a situation like this today, she doesn't even know how to tell the occasion."
Ruan Jiu looked up.
What did I do?
Shen Ruoxi looked so aggrieved that it really seemed as if she had bullied her.
It seemed that she had to drink this glass of wine.
Fortunately, they already knew about Shen Ruoxi's plot.
So she slowly stood up, picked up the wine cup, and smiled into Shen Ruoxi's innocent big eyes.
Just as their wine cups clinked, Shen Ruoxi accidentally lost her grip on the cup, and all the wine spilled on Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu frowned. Was there no drug in the wine?
"I'm sorry, Sister Ruan. I didn't mean to," Shen Ruoxi exclaimed.
Then she took out a handkerchief from her bosom and helped Ruan Jiu wipe it.
Looking at the wine stain on Ruan Jiu's clothes, before Ruan Jiu could say anything, Shen Ruoxi continued, "It was my carelessness. I'll take Sister Ruan to the private room to change into a new one!"
Hearing this, Shen Yu's brows furrowed even deeper.
Was it really as Xie Jingchu said?
He couldn't help but say, "Xi'er!"
At this time, Shen Ruoxi had already hooked her arm around Ruan Jiu's.
After hearing Shen Yu's voice, Shen Ruoxi turned back and gave Shen Yu a sweet smile. "Brother, wait a moment."
After saying that, she immediately led Ruan Jiu out.
Although Ruan Jiu knew that Shen Ruoxi had ulterior motives, but since it was at the Shen family's banquet, she had no choice but to follow Shen Ruoxi to the private room.
As soon as she entered the private room, Ruan Jiu immediately became vigilant.
She carefully surveyed the surroundings but didn't find anything strange.
"Sister Ruan, this peach-colored water-smoke silk dress suits you very well," Shen Ruoxi said as she handed over the tray with the clothes.
Ruan Jiu looked suspicious.
Did she do something to the clothes?
Looking at the tray in Shen Ruoxi's hand, she didn't reach out to take it.
"Miss Shen, just put it down. I'll change it myself later."
Only to see Shen Ruoxi withdraw her hand, then covered her mouth and laughed. "Sister Ruan, don't you think I put drugs in the clothes?"
These words instantly made Ruan Jiu widen her eyes.
Just then, there came a sound of footsteps at the door.
A glint of cunning flashed across Shen Ruoxi's eyes.
Then the tray in Shen Ruoxi's hand fell to the ground.
Hearing the sound, the people outside immediately pushed the door open.
Standing at the door were Xie Jingchu and Shen Yu.
"Shen Ruoxi, what are you doing?" Shen Yu roared.
Looking at their angry faces, Shen Ruoxi asked in confusion, "Brother, why are you so angry?"
Shen Yu stepped forward and grabbed Shen Ruoxi's wrist. His voice was low. "What do you want to do to Ruan Jiu?!"
"What do you mean, brother?" Shen Ruoxi frowned.
"Just now in the front hall, I saw clearly that you deliberately knocked over the wine cup!" Shen Yu roared.
Hearing this, Shen Ruoxi's nose turned sour, and she looked at Shen Yu in shock.
"Does brother think I want to harm Sister Ruan?"